A Tap on the Glass - Vol. 67 - Focus on Now

Once you decide you know what you want, FOCUS is one of the keys to getting it.

Focus is essential to achieving what you want in life, both personally and professionally.

You can't hit a target that you can't see. The starting point of great success is when you sit down and decide exactly what you really want, in every area of your life.

The sad truth is that many people have a hard time focusing their energy and thoughts in a clear direction and staying on track long enough to see the rewards.

One day they zero in on a particular goal, then six months later that goal is history and there is another in its place. Someone or something has distracted their attention. Thus, they never seem to fulfill their goals. At some point, many become aware of their failure to hit their goals repeatedly...and that has it's own psychological pitfalls that can make matters even worse.

Focus requires that you create boundaries around what you direct your thoughts and attention toward. This is a critical part of your game plan.

Your game plan for staying focused needs to include the following 5 strategies for success: goal setting, daily planning, limiting interruptions, delegation and execution. Let's go over each one.

1. Set Goals:

If you haven't already established the habit of setting goals, it's never too late to begin. Goals serve as a roadmap to living what you consider your ideal life! This is where you invent for yourself the life you want! Without goals, you will drift along aimlessly, never accomplishing much and never fulfilling your potential. You can't fly by the seat of your pants all the time!

PLAN EVERYTHING DAILY—even your play time. Investing 30 minutes in this action will return itself many times over in keeping you focused on fulfillment. Remember, "Failing to plan is planning to fail".

This becomes a visual reminder of all of your to-do's that, when they are fulfilled, march you toward the fulfillment of your goal. Make a list, or several lists, to keep you on track. Put them in your Outlook calendar. In your task list. Or, put a lined pad of paper or dry-erase board next to your computer where you can periodically look up and see how you are progressing. This will keep you focused and give you a sense of accomplishment every time you cross an item off your list.

3. Limit Interruptions:

Do not allow yourself to be interrupted. The cost of each interruption is at least 10-minutes. If you have 15 interruptions daily you are wasting more than 2 hours! Multiply this by the value of your time, and you get a real sense about the cost of interruptions daily, weekly, etc.

Just say no to yourself and others if its not about your goals and your plan. YOUR time is extremely valuable. Protecting your time is required to use it wisely. Don't waste it.

4. Delegate:

Do what you do well and delegate the rest. Successful people surround themselves with a team who helps them get things done.

Why tie your time up doing the things somebody else can do quicker, better, and less expensively?

Focus on your specific job responsibilities and do whatever it takes to get it done.